Ayrshire College & Diageo Training Programme Deemed Success

A college training programme has been hailed a success as it is rolled out across a further education facility in partnership with a leading drinks manufacturer.

Diageo’s Learning for Life programme has welcomed the second cohort of students from Ayrshire College’s Hospitality and Bartending course.

The course – designed for 18-to-28-year-olds on jobseeker’s allowance, introduces students to the skills needed for a career in hospitality.

Working in partnership with Diageo as part of the company’s Learning for Life programme, the college provides students with the opportunity to acquire new skills, gain six nationally recognised qualifications, participate in work experience and learn from industry experts.

Student James McDougall (23) from Stewarton, said ‘As well as gaining trade certificates, I’ve gone from being unemployed to working in the industry.

‘Because of my placement I’ve now got the confidence to pursue my dream of setting up a pub in the south of France’.

Moira Birtwistle, Director of Hospitality, Tourism, Business and IT at Ayrshire Colleg, added: ‘We’ve designed this programme with DIAGEO to help young adults in Ayrshire to gain the skills and qualifications necessary for a successful career within the sector.’